Hot water hit Hitomi's skin and her hands guided the soapy washrag along with her body's dips and curves. She had awoken before the morning sun could hit the horizon in order to get an early start on the day. The nightmare that the two experienced only a day ago had shaken Hitomi to the core. Not much struck fear into the Shrine Maiden, but that thing in the depths of the water did. It wasn't human, actually, a lot of things in this world weren't human but that thing was beyond comprehension and if not for that voice she would have been surely swallowed up by the void of it all. Finishing up her shower she stepped out and dried herself off. Since they would be in Astera for a while she rented them a rather upscale suite that overlooked the town. It had everything the pair would need to stay comfortably after tackling the work they would be doing here. Wrapped in a towel Hitomi walked to the living room area and made a call for room service of everything that came with breakfast for two plus some. Any meats, bread, eggs, grits, everything that was breakfast would be sent up to them. The pair would need a good meal since they would be right back at it in that cove. The people of Astera didn't know it but their lives were in grave danger, unfortunately, it went much deeper than just them.

Plopping herself on the couch she thought about the voice in her head that saved her from her own death. She didn't recognize it and she had a feeling that she would need to take a trip to Joya in order to contact Amateratsu directly about it. There was no way that whatever saved her wasn't from the other side of the veil. Waiting patiently for Seika to emerge from the room, Hitomi picked up the book that sat next to her, the same book she found in the cove off of that dead body. She could hardly read the things inside but she picked up on some of them, especially some of the symbols which she had already seen before while they were in Orchidia. Sighing deeply she wondered perhaps whatever they were supposed to originally find wasn't already dead and the fish were just steering clear of the bigger threat in the cove. These people should have known what was around by now. Someone is one hundred percent not giving the whole story. So many pieces are missing and now I'm almost certain I'll have to go to Joya in order to connect with Amaterasu. The last part wasn't necessarily something she was against but she was still in a state of confusion within herself about her own life going forward, not something she would say aloud but she was sure the gods knew well enough. Leaning back against the couch she continued to wait for the food and for Seika to make an apperance.

516

It was often that Light and Darkness were considered two halves of the same coin, but people who speak that adage never really think about the properties of the two and the history that they contain. It is true, Light and Dark are very similar, and require each other too essentially exist and survive, but the absence of Light never meant that Dark would all of a sudden fulfill the act of comfort and support. No, the Dark was never intended to be a comforting force. It was always an all consuming, all assimilating force. Forever destined to spread its influence to choke out any and all light that it could find before dragging it deep within its own essence to snuff it out. Thus to prevent this from happening, Light equally had to become destructive, to protect its very meaning and essence, Light truly had to become destructive and indeterminate in its spread. To fill every space, nook and cranny with its illuminating essence as so to stave off the ever encroaching spread of the hungry maw of Darkness.

It was these contrasting forces that forever fought within Seika's mind and heart. The large man essentially floating in an indeterminate liquid, surrounded on all sides by murky unknown darkness. His body floated limply, eyes closed as a brilliant light shown down upon him, illuminating his body and keeping the darkness surrounding him from consuming him whole. He was always destined to be one of Sol's chosen Avatar's. A force to ensure that the forces of the Deep, and Darkness itself never snuffed out the final bits of Light in the Cosmos. But even Light struggled when the Dark had so many allies beckoning it forward. It made it harder to actually fight because it wasn't as if the forces of Light and Dark could fight directly. No their battle was a proxy war of ideals and worship. Fought in the hearts and minds of the creatures that existed within the mortal plane. Thankfully for the Light, the existence of many other Gods and Entities that indirectly helped push back the encroaching Dark meant that it had time to build up its Champion and prepare it for the fight ahead of him. Unfortunately for the Light however, none of this went unnoticed by the Dark.

Seika's eyes twitched as he fought against waves and waves of unknown creatures. Their bodies twisted and deformed, their skin flayed and diseased. Horrific orifices released supersonic sounds that neither made sense nor were actually audible to him. And yet, he didn't have time to stop and contemplate any of it. He just had to continue fighting, continue surviving. It was the same nightmare he had had since Joya, and unfortunately for him. He was losing.

---

Opening his eyes, Seika merely laid in bed for a few minutes. Catching his breath, he felt the insane pulse of his heart, the steady drum beating in his ears as he observed his surroundings. He could still smell the residue of the shower that Hitomi had taken, the soft scent that she used with her shampoo and body wash filled the room. It was enough to calm him down and ease his worries. He was immensely grateful for the woman. She sometimes didn't know just how good to him she was.

Finally rising up out of bed, he shuffled past the doorway and saw her sitting there on the couch in all of beauty. It was enough to get him to stop at the door frame, his half sleep eyes lowered enough that they almost seemed closed. He drunk in her peaceful appearance, the slight curl of her figure on the couch, the tome that she held in her hands, her wet hair that lay across her body. It was all so enticing in a way. He let off a small smile before turning to head towards the bathroom. "Good morning, Hikari" he spoke softly in Joyan. It was something he had picked up after spending a good deal of time in the nation with the woman. And he had taken to calling her his 'Light' as a term of affection and endearment. The only person on this planet who he would place near or above Sol itself.

720/2500

She could hear him before he surfaced from the room his voice bringing a smile to her face as she stood up ready to embrace him. His pet name for her made her beam and glow just like the meaning itself. Did you sleep well? Are you hungry? Her arms wrapped around his neck while her hands ran upwarps behind his head, pushing his face towards her as she went in for a kiss. When she was with him all her worries seemed to melt away and she didn't know when this happened. The growth between them was something she never even thought about even as their relationship grew stronger each day. Her memory of the first day she met him, he was silent and to some maybe a little cold but not to her. Every day with him was a new adventure even if it seemed like their lives were in constant danger she would rather have his light guiding her through all the darkness. She'd take the lead in deepening the kiss, her towel slipping off of her and just as it hit the floor.

KNOCK..KNOCK..KNOCK..

Room Service. May we come in?

Well, she couldn't say she didn't see that one coming. Slipping out of the kiss and into the room to throw on a robe, Hitomi called out to give them a moment before coming back out of the room and tying her towel around Seika's wait to shield the poor workers from the rather striking form he held between his thighs. Without missing a beat in her movement she opened the door to let in not one, not two, but three room service members. Each of them pushed a two-tier cart with something different. One cart held breakfast meats and sweetbreads like muffins cupcakes and such, another cart held eggs, grits, home fries, and the like, the last cart was full of fruits, teas, coffee, apple juice, orange juice, and ice cold pitchers of water. Hitomi was more or less embarrassed as when she ordered the food she didn't know just how much would be brought up. Watching the three workers set the table for two they bowed and took their leave which honestly left Hitomi more or less impressed. Turning to Seika once they were all gone she nodded her head.

I hope you're hungry. Please help yourself, and once settled we can discuss today's plans and yesterday's little adventure. Picking up a plate she moved over to the food and placed a helping of eggs, sausages, English muffin, a banana and placed her plate on the table before pouring herself some water. I asked for every breakfast item on the menu so you can have your pick. I didn't want to risk getting anything wrong. Whatever we don't eat I'll just pack up and give to the less fortunate. Food shouldn't go to waste at least.

1,026

It was as if she was gliding, the way she approached his still form in the doorway. The younger woman embracing him with love and affection that had been built over the past two years of close contact and intimacy. He had been hurt when she had left the Rune Knights, but he also understood that the organization at the time had placed an unnecessary weight onto her shoulders. He couldn't have possibly imagined how annoying dealing with stepping into Shichiro's shoes could have been. Hell, he eventually ended up stepping into both of their shoes and it damn near broke him trying to keep the region from damn near exploding into a civil war.

Looking down into her beautiful heart shaped face as she stretched her hands over the skin of his neck and up towards the back of his head, he could feel her pull his face down to hers. It was one of the few times that he was reminded of their size difference. She always seemed so strong, so resilient when dealing with the otherworldly nonsense that they had been fighting. But here, in this moment, she seemed so small, so frail, but at the time she felt so lushy and lovely that he strives to ensure that this moment never ended. Their lips eventually met, his world being consumed by her and her lips just before the door behind them was used to break their combined universe in two.

Frowning into her mouth, he felt her pull away and shuffle around him. Apparently she had ordered food while he was still sleep, it was something he was grateful for because he could feel how famished he actually was now that he was awake. Apparently Hitomi also had the foresight to hand him something to cover his naked lower half as he dropped a hand down to the towel to keep it in place before she finally opened the door to allow room service in. Watching the three clerks bring in trays of food, Seika actually arched an eyebrow at the sight of all of the food, amusement rising as Hitomi at least had the decency to look abashed at how much she had ordered. Of course, she eventually rolled with it all and began to utter out about how if they didn't eat it all, then she would save some for later consumption. He only chuckled at this before stepping into the living room, deciding that he would shower after he consumed some food.

So he began to pile a couple of foods onto his plate, sticking more to the meats and fruits than the pastries, the large man would then move over to the drinks where Hitomi was pouring herself some water. Wrapping a large arm around her waist, he would bend down and kiss her on the neck before moving to head towards the dining room table so that he could sit down and enjoy his meal. "Of course", he began, switching back to Fiorian as he began to pick about his food, "But thank you again for the meal."

1247/2500

No need to thank me, you're a grown man and we have a long day ahead of us. Speaking of... Hitomi's tongue switched to Joyan as smooth as butter. She may have not grown up with the language but once she learned of her family she took to it like a fish to water, as if she was speaking it her whole life. Those that knew her knew this but anyone else would have thought she was speaking it since the day she was born. In truth, once she learned to speak it the taste of the Florian language was stale and frankly felt just wrong. I'm not looking forward to fighting that thing again. The only reason I got out of it in one peice, and not drowned was because something saved me. At the time, during my panic I couldn't recognize it, but now that I dwell on it more and more the presence was familar.

Scooping some eggs into her mouth and cutting up bits of breakfast sauage, Hitomi wish she knew what or who that was that saved her. She understood that she'd have to do some shrine work for the answers but she wanted them now not later. Getting up from her chair she grabbed some jam and butter from one of the carts, upon returning to her seat she began to spread a bit of both on her english muffin. This peace between them was something she wanted to hold onto forever but she knew that with their work ahead of them she could not, so for now she took it all in so that she could remember it when things were too hard. Mmm please don't be afraid to use Joyan going forward. I keep forgetting you know how to use it which is why I kept reverting to fiorian...What did you find when you were on your own? She of course spoke of before she ran into him from her own ordeal.

She would let him speak as she continued to eat, nodding when she needed to and adding her input when she thought it was ok to do so. Eating her meal slowly until there was nothing left she would excuse herself after awhile and rise from her seat, leaving her plate for housekeeping. As she walked away she disrobed in order to get dressed, a simple pair of black boots, some dark pants and a long sleeved shirt. She would wait on Seika to get dressed and ready so the two of them could head out and complete the job they were set out to do, or at least attempt to complete it. The beasts ahead were nothing to take with. Grabbing Kusanagi as she plopped down on the couch she began to wonder just what secrets were hiding in that cave and where it would lead them. Hitomi let her fingers dance up the side of the sheath that held Kusanagi.


1,534

Looking up at her, he noticed the switch to Joyan, something he wasn't expecting as she began to talk with him. Rather than calling her out on it however, he would return to his food, eating quietly as he listened to her explain her experience while in the Cove. It made him clench his fingers tightly around the fork he was holding, bending the flimsy metal slightly as he continued to slowly and carefully place food into his mouth. He should have never let her go by herself. He berated himself internally for the fact that she had to suffer in such a way, and the fact that the only reason she had been saved was because of an unknown deity stepping in? Sol save him.

Working on finishing his food, she finally finished with her story and explained that they would be speaking in Joyan going forward, which was something he was fine with. He had no issues with using her native tongue if he were completely honest. "Hm. There wasn't much discovery. It seems that whatever attacked you also prevented me from entering the Cove to help you. So either there are two separate entities, or this creature is far stronger than we originally assumed it was. Both scenarios sound bad in all honesty." He finished his statement and his food around the same time. Wiping his face with a napkin that was laying on the table. While he definitely could've engorged himself on the provided meal, keeping to eating just enough that he was full but not stuffed was key to not straining himself later when they had to encounter the beasts.

Putting his utensils on the plate, he would stand up and begin cleaning up the table, making sure everything was either put up or thrown away before walking into the room so he could take a shower as well. Removing the towel from around his waist and depositing it in the hamper, he would step into the bathroom and take a quick and spartan shower, hitting all of the necessary parts and ensuring that he was at least clean of the sweat he may have accumulated over night while sleeping. After that he would exit and dry himself before throwing on a simple attire of a pair of Hakama and a nice fitting shirt. Deciding today to leave Prometheus here in the hotel room, he would instead bring along Ohabari, the red blade singing in its sheath as it began to warm his body with its latent heat.

All of this would take awhile, but finally he would step out of the room and join Hitomi, smiling softly as he pulled some of his dreads from out of his face before tying them up in the back. "Come my Light, it is time to save the world once again." It was a joke that she had told him once. That all of his adventures, all of his travels, in all of them he was always working to save the world. Maybe there was some truth to it after all.

1770/2500

Using Kusanagi to help rise from her seat she would smile at Seika's comment, taking his hand as she walked towards the door, leading him out. Today was the last day that she planned on dealing with this...Whatever it was. She had to get her mind in the right place, emptying her mind of any doubts and second thoughts. Unlike yesterday she wouldn't suggest the two split up and explore the cave on their own. It was stupid for her to even suggest that they did so without knowing what they would be facing. Hitomi told herself she would not make that mistake again. As the two walked she had already set up for the same old man and his rather nice boat to transport them to the area with a cove. With Kusanagi on her hip, she would at some point let go of Seika's hand so that she could tie her hair up in a neat bun. She needed no hindrance for what was to come and she hopped she would get more answers coming out of this than she did going in. She kept quiet as the two walked up to the boat, the old man patiently waiting for them and waving at them once he saw the both of them approaching in. Smiling in return and waving at him she was glad nothing had happened to the man while they were out trying to make sure whatever was in the cave stayed in the cave.

Good morning Felix. How is the wife? She spoke in Fiorian towards him so they could understand each other and he responded about how she was doing well thanks to Hitomi's contribution in helping the man's wife heal from a fatal ailment. The poor old man didn't have enough money for her treatment before Hitomi came along like some angel in disguise. Once the pleasantries were over she boarded the ship, heading not to the bottom where the comforts were but to the front deck of the boat to see the ocean and feel the mist on her face. The long leather coat kept her warm for the most part and the leather gloves kept her fingers from freezing. She wouldn't say it nor show it but she was wracked with fear. The unknown was approaching and she had not only herself to protect but Seika as well. He was her guiding light and she wouldn't let anything harm him, it was one of the reasons she left the Rune Knights. She could better protect him from the other side but she could also be as free as she wanted. With the boat slowly pushing towards their destination she would look over towards Seika if he was near her. Grabbing his hand once more she gave it a light squeeze and slight nod. After this is all said and done let's take another small vacation. All this madness takes a toll on a girl's mental health.


2,046

There was always a bit of nervousness when dealing with the dark. While Seika had slowly over time gotten over his intense fear, mainly due to having traveled and fought against the enigmatic force far too many times than he'd like to admit if he were honest, it still held a rather strong grip on the large man. He tried to put forth a brave front and dispel the notion that such a thing could harm him, but he knew otherwise. There were forces out there that surpassed even the concept of magic. Vague ideas that constituted absolute truths that all had to obey or be erased in the face of their ever present truth. It was one of the few things he had never really expressed or explained to Hitomi. How could one grasp the infinite concept of destruction. Not as some foul beast, or rogue god, but as an all encompassing concept that seemingly did not care, nor was able to be reasoned with. It consumed and destroyed not because it was megalomaniac, but because it simply was the rule it created and thus had to follow. All beings by default had part of this truth in them. It was the basis that magic operated under. The concept of balancing the forces of Creation, Destruction and Truth into ones expression upon the mortal plane. It was the very basic concepts and balance that magic did, and it was the only time that mortals even remotely interacted with the concept known as the Truth, but that's not what this story is about.

Returning from his musings, the pair had stepped off of the ship. Seika had been zoned out for the entirety of their travel, his large form standing stalwart against the heavy sea air and the cold mist that came with it. His form radiating light and heat as he stared out into the infinite expanse. The man focused on one thing in particular as he returned back to reality. His grip. At some point during his musings, his grip on his blades hilt had grown extremely tight, enough that the wood and metal composite creaked from the pressure. The metal rattled as his foot stepped onto the beach. This wasn't fear. No, not anymore. He had fought denizens and creatures far too many times to be afraid anymore. No this was anticipation. Every day that they moved forward, he and Hitomi, they drew ever closer to the concept known as the Truth. It seemingly eluded them, like a moth on the wind. But when they finally reached there, would their questions finally be answered? And would he finally have peace?

Stopping before the rolling cloud of fog, the large man took a deep breath. He exhaled slowly as the fog roiled and twisted before him as if the creature that dwelt deeply within knew that they were there to once again intrude upon its domain but could not travel any further to stop them. He would reach out and grab Hitomi's hand within his own, the small comforting weight was enough to steel his nerves further before he whispers a few words of love and faith to the woman. They were for her ears and her own ears only just before he let go over hand and stepped forward. Into the unknown they go.

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For the most part, the two mages shared silence between them. The boat pushed forward to their destination until Seika broke that silence with his voice. His words were as sweet as honey and as warming as a fire on a cold night. The bond they built between each other was something so special to her because it trumped the bond that she had with Odin. In fact, it was stronger and built upon something that they built together rather than her just being thankful to a being who took her in when she was clearly vulnerable. Even as all this was true she couldn't with her whole heart say she loved him. She had something for him that was for sure, but love was such a weird thing for her, something she didn't truly understand, or rather maybe she wasn't ready to accept. She didn't know but she one hundred percent knew that it was in fact, love, she had for him.

She could see their destination at some point causing her to release Seika's hand and move down below. Hitomi didn't need anything from the lower portion of the boat but she was still human and being human meant bodily functions. Just before the boat settled at the dock she made a beeline into the bathroom. It only took her a few minutes but the instant release was satisfying and gave her even more gusto to take out the beast. Cleaning her hands she would follow Seika off the boat, the two walking to the cove. The face she put on was a brave one because she knew she had to be. Pulling out Kusanagi as they entered she expected Seika to provide the light as the two walked. Both hands gripped the hilt tightly, her muscles felt tight as she was ready to strike at anything perceived as dangerous. The silence in the cave she had gotten used to and as the two walked they came upon the fork in the cave that she had run into the day before. Going in the direction opposite the one she chose would lead them out of the cave and into the little cove area. It was bright and cool, the water lapping up on the sandy beach of it. This time she would take the lead, getting close to the water's edge to see if she could see anything. News flash, she couldn't. After a while, she would turn away from it and shake her head towards Seika but as soon as she did so something latched onto her leg. Without missing a beat she would slice her sword towards it, cutting herself free.

The last time she did this the creature retreated but this time it came out of the water. A mass of tentacles and inky goop, screeching and gnashing. It was repulsive and she was sick of seeing it already. Setting off every spell her sword had in it, she dumped it all on the creature while dodging its attacks. She was quicker than it was but she made sure to stay away from the water because she couldn't beat it there. Once she emptied her arsenal of spells it was time to cut it down. Slicing off tentacle after tentacle, Hitomi made sure to leave space between her, the monster, and Seika so he could get in his own damage without hurting her. At some point, she backed off completely to support Seika from behind and the two kill the thing. Returning with its body, they were paid by the city and sent on their way.

-exit-
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The fog could not have embodied eagerness any more than when the stepped in to it. The vicious feeling of death surrounded and embraced them as they entered. The creature knew they were coming, it could taste the anticipation and slight fear that the two carried with them, yet it itself could also feel a small twinge of... fear. As if one of the two carried with them the essence of Destruction itself, manifested in its purest form. The creature writhed in disbelief at this, even as the two approached. It could feel something was wrong with one of the two and in a desperate attempt to end one of them before they could unleash the Truth upon it, it would grab on to the one closest too it and attempt to pull it into the waters with it.

Pain. Pain became its existence, writhing in the sensation as more and more of its body began to writhe and boil to the touch. The being up above had done something to it and had thrown multiple attacks and while they did damage, they weren't the ones it was worried about. No it was the light. The blinding light up above that terrified the creature the most. That light held a weight about it that to most mortals and existences on this plane could never understand. Only the Great Others and the Higher Beings could even hope to even comprehend the heat and magnificence that this light carried. It was all the creature could consider before the light consumed its being in its entirety, erasing its very essence from this plane. The creature did not wail. The creature did not cry. The creature did not screech.

The creature simply. Ceased.

-Exit-

2500+/2500